Firefighters? Anyone?

[The Watcher]

For the Record

Watcher,

Thank you for your post.

I would like to point out though, SWFD is South Walton Fire District. Nothing I have written herein is on behalf of this governmental entity.

I am the President of South Walton Professional Firefighters Assoc. Our organization (though all of our members are employed by SWFD) is independent of SWFD and does not represent in any way the management or elected officials of SWFD.

Thanks again for your support of our rights.

My mistake (which I apologize for). Please refer to any of my references to SWFD to have been meant to be listed as SWPFA (Union).

 

[The Watcher]

Negative Nancy

Just wanted to point out that no one has yet explained a positive reason to vote for Mr. Braunstein or Mr. Cooper.

Firefighters support simply isn't enough to sway me, as I am not a firefighter. I might be swayed by a reason for support, but without specific reasons I consider the endorsement meaningless -- which disappoints me.

No one here needs to point out anything. There are dozens of other posts on SoWal, weighing the pros and cons of the candidates. This is about one Union and their right to endorse whomever they want. They do not answer to you or to me, they answer to themselves, thus the UNION. I am sorry that your candidate did not get this groups support, move along, nothing to see here.

 

[ShallowsNole]

So who exactly is crying over spilled milk because Tom got the endorsement of the firefighters? Heck, I'd be shocked and surprised if he didn't.

 

[Geo]

No one here needs to point out anything. There are dozens of other posts on SoWal, weighing the pros and cons of the candidates. This is about one Union and their right to endorse whomever they want. They do not answer to you or to me, they answer to themselves, thus the UNION. I am sorry that your candidate did not get this groups support, move along, nothing to see here.

Watcher,

It says you've been a SoWal.com member for a year. If you have been a "watcher" of Punzy's posts all that time I doubt you would still be calling her negative. While she isn't shy about stating her opinion (thank goodness)- she is one of the most open to the opposing ones that I have seen on this board. She regularly seeks first to understand before being understood. She is about as close as one can be to fair and consistent, IMHO...

Anyway, I feel the need to stick up for her and for anyone else reading along on this thread who don't care to "move along" because we are interested to know why the union endorsed certain candidates. We see this as something of substance and I personally find it a bit odd that the question makes you defensive...

If you choose not to answer then don't. No worries. But hopefully someone else will- so stick around. There might still be something to see here...



G

 

[Johnny Post]

To my knowledge, SWFD is not nor will it be "involved" in any political action. This is so because of the Hatch Act. SWFD is funded by ad valorem tax dollars.

South Walton Professional Firefighters Association is the labor organization whose members are the men and women on the ambulances and fire trucks and are employed by SWFD. These two organizations are mutually exclusive. South Walton Professional Firefighters Assoc. and their and interests are funded solely by membership dues and participation.

South Walton Fire District cannot legally "strike a deal" in support or opposition of any candidate. This would be in violation of the Hatch Act.

This, along with other posts, tries to separate SWFD from these endorsements. If this is the case, then please tell us why Tom Cooper seems to think SWFD is the one endorsing him?

He even paid for the signs. http://www.voterfocus.com/ws/WScand... - 7/18/2008) &rellevel=4&dhc=399&committee=N

See line 21 under expenditures, on 7/17/2008 - "SWFD Endorsement signs"

If political action is prohibited, it would seem Mr. Cooper may have a misunderstanding about who endorsed him, or SWFD may be more involved than is indicated.

 

[Yahoodie]

Did you send this questionaire to ALL the candidates?? including ALL the candidates for Sheriff??

 

[Yahoodie]

A question,
does Mr. Cooper. (who served on earlier SWFD boards) have his police standards up to date?

 

[Smiling JOe]

First, let me say that I fully support anyone's, and group's, and even any union's decision to vote and campaign for candidates. One of the issues of concern, per the firefighter's post, dealt with an individual's right to campaign as he or she sees fit. The law is the law, and the candidates running in this local election cannot change it, whether or not it is right or wrong. Personally, I have no concern in their choice to support one person over the other. I will add that I could care less which Sheriff candidate your union supports, unlike someone said.

Second, I stand by my statement that by belonging to an organization doesn't mean that one agrees with the group. My example of ECAR shows that. ECAR will endorse candidates, and I am a member of ECAR, but that doesn't mean that I support the same candidates.

Thirdly, your website details how the union determines which candidates you endorse, but that is obviously not correct, and that is why I posed the question, which remains unanswered. Holding a note card questionnaire with a candidate's responses, according to your website, is not how you determine your candidate of choice, yet it is how you say you determined the candidates whom you endorse. Select your choice as you see fit, but don't try to tell us one thing, while your website says something to the contrary.

Lastly, it is my understanding that you wouldn't allow Alan the follow-up questions to best answer your questionnaire. You may find that he would have been the most supportive of the emergency/rescue services, yet rather than give him the chance, you have chosen to support another candidate, who may not be as supportive. That seems rather crazy, IMO. On a similar note, do I correctly understand that you never even delivered a questionnaire to candidate Bob Hudson (BCC, District 5)? I understand that you had candidates sign for the questionnaires, and that would mean that if he signed, you have proof that he received the questions and was given the opportunity to reply. My information is second-hand, and may be incorrect. Will you please set that record straight?

 

[SoWalProfire]

We gave a questionnaire to every candidate who asked for our support.

 

[SoWalProfire]

A question,
does Mr. Cooper. (who served on earlier SWFD boards) have his police standards up to date?

Yes